Election commissions register 16,021 nomination groups

Three applications were withdrawn by potential candidates and 42 were rejected, the central election commission said.

As many as 280 nomination groups will gather signatures for representatives of political parties, including 99 representatives of the Communist Party of Belarus, 53 representatives of the Hramada Belarusian Social Democratic Party, 40 representatives of the Belarusian Popular Front, 39 representatives of the United Civic Party, 25 representatives of the "Spravedlivy Mir" (Just World) Belarusian Party of the Left, nine representatives of the Republican Party of Labor and Justice, five representatives of the Belarusian Agrarian Party, four representatives of the Belarusian Social Democratic Hramada, three representatives of the Belarusian Party of the Greens, two representatives of the Belarusian Social and Sports Party, and one representative of the Liberal Democratic Party.

As always, the largest number of nomination groups per electoral district, 3.7, will collect signatures for potential candidates for seats in the Minsk City Soviet, with 213 groups being registered in 57 electoral districts.

As many as 482 nomination groups were registered in the 355 electoral districts for elections for regional soviets; and 518 groups were registered in the 368 electoral districts for elections for the soviets of cities of regional subordination. The ratio of groups per electoral district is 1.4 in both cases.

The number of electoral districts for elections for all other soviets exceeds the number of registered nomination groups. In particular, 3,009 nomination groups were registered in the 3,913 electoral districts for elections for district soviets; 191 groups were registered in the 248 electoral districts for elections for the soviets of cities of district subordination; 151 groups were registered in the 273 electoral districts for elections for the soviets of urban villages; and 11,457 groups were registered in the 13,602 electoral districts for elections for village soviets.

Voters in 18,816 electoral districts are to elect 1,328 local soviets between March 18 and March 23.

The deadline for nominating candidates is February 10 and applications for registration as candidates will be considered between February 11 and February 20.

Candidates may be nominated by parties and “worker collectives” and through the collection of ballot access signatures from voters.

Nomination groups are required to gather at least 150 signatures to secure ballot access for a candidate for the regional soviets and the Minsk City Soviet, at least 75 signatures for a candidate for district and city soviets and at least 20 signatures for a candidate for village soviets.